A brand new year about to begin. The whole year was transcriber some
time ago, so it there are any errors, please let me know and they can
be changed or noted.

West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser. Friday, January 6th, 1854

CAUTION - I, JOHN CANDY, of the parish of Kenwyn, in the borough of
Truro, do hereby give notice that I will not be answerable for any debt
or debts that my wife, Elizabeth Candy, of the parish of Kenwyn, in the
said borough, may contract after this Notice. John Candy. Witness -
Thomas PETHERICK, dated December 30th, 1853.

TREGORRICK BRIDGE. - Sir COLMAN RASHLEIGH said he had been requested to
call attention to this bridge, in the neighbourhood of St. Austell.
The present is a wooden bridge, and very unsafe. There is considerable
traffic over it; and the parish of St. Austell propose to rebuild it,
with the view of having it made a county bridge afterwards. He then
moved that a committee be appointed to consider the propriety of
accepting this as a county bridge when built; but after some remarks
from other magistrates, he withdrew his motion, in order that inquiry
might be made, in the first place whether, when a parish is liable to
repair a bridge, that it can be made a county bridge.

TRIALS OF PRISONERS.
The cases disposed of today in this court were of an unimportant
character. WILLIAM NINNIS, 30 a miner, was found guilty of stealing
apples from the orchard of Mrs. PHILLIPPA PEARCE ANDREW, in the parish
of St. Austell, on the 6th of November. A second conviction was proved
against him, at the assizes in 1846, of stealing candles, in the parish
of Gwennap.

WILLIAM KNIGHT, a labourer, aged 46, was found guilty of stealing a
coat, value 3s., the property of John EDEY, gardener, of St. Germans,
from an orchard belonging to Mr. POLGREEN, near to which the prosecutor
was working.

JOHN JACKMAN HARRIS, a labourer, aged 22, was found guilty of stealing
on the 21st of December, at St. Stephens by Saltash, a sow pig, the
property of WILLIAM CARAM, a farmer. He was also found guilty on a
second indictment, of stealing on the 23rd of December, a pig the
property of CHARLES JEFFERY, farmer, of Burrow, in the parish of Antony.

CATHERINE ANGOVE, aged 19, who had been in employ at West Wheal Buller,
was charged with stealing on the 18th of November, at Redruth, 3s. 8
1/2 d., from the person of PHILIPPA SMITHERAM. Mr. DARKE conducted
the prosecution; Mr. STOKES the defence. Philipa Smitheram, the
prosecutrix, stated:- I am a servant at an inn kept by Mr. TREVENA in
Redruth; in the evening of Saturday, the 18th of November, I was
standing at the street door, looking at a large boiler in the street,
and there was also some fighting going on. The prisoner came alongside
me, by my right side, and said a man had almost knocked her down. At
the time I came out to the door I had in my pocket on my right side
three sixpences and 2 1/2 d. I went back into the drinking room, and
having to pay for a pint of porter, I found that all my money was gone.
I then went into another drinking room, and brought out the girl into
the mixing bar, and told her she had taken my money. She said she had
not, and that she had nothing in her pocket but a key. RICHARD RODDA,
a constable, came and took hold of the prisoner and shook her, and
there fell from her, three sixpences and 2 1/2 d. Richard Rodda, the
constable, gave confirmatory evidence. For the defence, it was urged
that there was no proof of any act of felony by the prisoner, and that
in the absence of such proof, she ought not to be convicted merely
because of the correspondence of the money found on the floor with what
the prosecutrix said she lost. It would also be proved that on the day
in question, the prisoner, had in her possession, a sum greater than
that which the prosecutrix had lost. In proof of this statement, a
young girl named Jane BOLITHO, working at West Wheal Buller under the
same captain as the prisoner was examined. The jury found a verdict of
Guilty. The Chairman advised that females should wear their pockets in
a position and manner to be less tempting to thieves than they are as
ordinarily worn.

JAMES WREN, a labourer, aged 27, and evidently not one of this county,
was found guilty of stealing, on the 25th of December, some mutton,
flour, butter, and a handkerchief, the property of RICHARD JEFFERY,
also a labourer, at Liskeard. There was another indictment, not tried,
which charged the prisoner with stealing on the same day, at Liskeard,
three loaves of bread, the property of WILLIAM HARRIS, a labourer.

THOMAS HOARE, 28, was found guilty of stealing two Muscovy ducks, the
property of Mr. JOHN DOBEY of Tencreek, in Menheniot, on the 9th of
December. A former conviction for larceny was proved against the
prisoner in March 1845, at the Liskeard Union, where he stole lead.

APPLE STEALING. - WILLIAM STEPHENS 22, and JOHN KNEEBONE, 17, were
charged with stealing a quantity of apples, the property of JOHN DOBEY.
Mr. CHILDS for the prosecution, and Mr. SHILSON for the defence. The
prosecutor lives at Tencreek, in Menheniot, and there being a public
path by the orchard of his at Pope's Mill, and a great many miners in
the neighbourhood, he had had large quantities of apples stolen. A
quantity of apples were found in the prisoner's possession, which were
compared before the committing magistrates with the apples in the
orchard, and were found to correspond, but having denyed[?] they could
not be brought into court for the inspection of the jury. Evidence was
also given of statements by the prisoners in regard to the apple
stealing. For the defence, Mr. Shilson submitted that there was no
case for the jury, inasmuch as it had not been proved whether the
apples were taken from the trees or from the ground. To prove the
felony, it was necessary to show by evidence that the apples were
stolen from the ground; if taken from the trees, it was a misdemeanour
and not felony. The Chairman, however, decided the case should go to
the jury, and stated in summing up that if the apples were stolen from
the trees, it would be a misdemeanour, a case of malicious trespass[?],
and should be dealt with summarily before the magistrates, and not be a
case for trial in this court; but if the apples were stolen from the
ground, it would be a case of felony. They must therefore consider
whether there was evidence that any of the apples were stolen from the
ground; if not, the prisoners must be acquitted. After the jury had
considered the case for some time, one of them occasioned[?] some
laughter by asking the chairman whether they must go by the evidence,
or might judge from analogy! The Chairman replied that they must
ground their verdict on the evidence. He was then asked if they could
agree that the prisoners had been in the orchard, whether they might
convict if it were shown that one apple had been taken from the ground.
The Chairman replied that they might in that case convict the
prisoners, if they were agreed on the other points. The jury, however,
could not agree; they stated that eleven were for an acquittal, but
that one was holding out. They were then locked up "without meat,
drink, fire or candle," and in about an hour and a half returned the
prisoners Not Guilty.

MARY ANN IVEY was charged with stealing two glasses, a spoon, and a
jug, the property of GEORGE UGLOW of St. Austell. Mr. SHILSON
prosecuted, and Mr. STOKES defended the prisoner. Prosecutor keeps
the Holmbush Inn, in the parish of St. Austell, and the articles in
question were stolen on Saturday evening the 29th of October. The
articles were found on her person, she having been seen to take one or
tow of them by one of the female servants called HICKS. The defence
set up was that she took them thinking them to be the property of a
woman called KESTLE. But the jury almost immediately found her Guilty.

CHARLES NORMINGTON was charged with stealing a pair of trousers from
John BATE, who was a sawyer at West Par Consols, and had left his
trousers in the carpenter's shop. Mr. SHILSON submitted, on behalf of
the prisoner, that the case was a doubtful one as to identity of the
trousers that they were not found in prisoner's possession until a
considerable time after they were missed, and that other persons had
access to the carpenter's shop, whereas there was no proof that the
prisoner had access. Verdict, Not Guilty.

WILLIAM BUCKINGHAM, 32, RICHARD HALVASO, 28, HIRAM PEARCE and WILLIAM
BENNY were indicted for stealing twenty Winchester bushels of oats, the
property of JOSEPH THOMAS, grocer, and corn dealer, at Truro. The
prisoner, Buckingham, pleaded guilty. The other three were placed on
their trial. Mr. HOCKIN appearing for the prosecution, and Mr. STOKES
for Pearce and Benny; Halvaso was undefended. The evidence was of
considerable length. It appeared that Mr. Joseph Thomas had purchased
oats in Ireland, which were brought to Malpas, two miles from Truro,
previous to the 19th of December, in the vessel "Patrick." He sent a
man to Malpas with the corporation meter, to measure the oats, and
there were discharged into a barge hired from Mr. JEREMIAH REYNALDS,
100 quarters in bulk, and 10 quarters in bags. Buckingham and Halvaso
were employed to bring the barge up to Truro, and assisted in
discharging the oats from the vessel to the barge. Prosecutor's man,
FRANCIS VAGUE, went in the barge to Victoria Point with Buckingham and
Halvaso, where they went ashore (waiting for tide) and had two quarts
of beer. This was between two and three in the afternoon. Vague left
them at the public house and went home; when he was in the barge he
noticed two bags in the cabin with straw in them. After this a man
called CLEMMOW, in the employ of Mr. Reynalds, went down to Waterloo
quay to see if the barge was coming up. He saw her, and a little boat
astern. He saw the boat drawn forwards to the side of the barge, and a
person got into the little boat and crossed towards the Newham side of
the river. Afterwards he went to Lemon Quay, at Truro, and found the
barge had arrived there. Only Buckingham was on boards, and Benny was
on the quay making the lighter fast. Buckingham said to Clemmow that
Halvaso had gone ashore at the other quay. By this time suspicion had
been awakened that all was not right, and Thomas BLEWETT, in the employ
of Mr. Reynalds, about six o'clock went to Waterloo quay, and met a man
riding, but could not see who it was, it being dark. On returning he
saw a horse inside the gate at the limekiln at Poltisko; he waked down
a hundred yards, and then saw a horse go towards Truro, with something
on his back, and a man riding on it. A lad called DYER, in Mr.
Reynald's employ, gave evidence that he saw Hiram Pearce, about seven
in the evening, pass his master's gate on horseback, with a bag under
him. He followed him to Clift's stable on Bodmin hill, and saw him
take a bag off the horse, and carry into the stable. The Police were
informed of the matter, and inspector NASH and police constable PAPPIN
went to Clift's stables. The inspector directed the policeman to
remain there, and went down the hill, when at the bottom he met Hiram
Pearce and apprehended him. Pearce said to the inspector he would not
get into trouble for any one. He said that on the previous Saturday
(this being Monday) Buckingham and Halvaso asked him to buy some oats,
and he agreed to do so. He went down that evening, and brought one
sack up on the horse's back, and the other three sacks were under the
eye of the limekiln at Poltisko. Mr. Nash then went to the limekiln,
and had the three sacks brought to the police station. Samples of the
oats in those sacks, and in the sack found in Clift's stable were
produced, and the prosecutor's servant said they corresponded with the
oats discharged into the barge. The prosecutor said the quantity taken
was about fourteen bushels. The admissions of the persons before the
magistrates were then put in as evidence. Benny's statement was the he
joined Buckingham and Halvaso at the Park Inn, he said, "they asked me
to have a glass of beer; we then went together to Victoria Point and
went on board the barge. Buckingham told Halvaso to go down and fill
two sacks of oats, and two other sacks were taken by them full of oats.
The four sacks were pub by Buckingham and Halvaso into the little
boat. I steered the barge to Lemon quay, then moored the boat, and
went in search of Hiram Pearce. We found Pearce and Buckingham told
him to get the horse and go down the Malpas road as he agreed. The
horse was brought by Pearce, and he went with me to Waterloo quay.
There was not water enough to float the boat there, and I jumped into
the boat and pulled her up to Poltisko quay with Halvaso, we then
landed the four sacks, one of which was taken by Pearce and put on the
horse, which he rode away, and the other three were put in the
limekiln. Hiram Pearce's admission before the magistrates, was that he
agreed on the previous Saturday to give Buckingham 8s. a bag for the
oats, and a quart of beer, Halvaso's confession corroborated the other
statements. Whilst Benny and Buckingham went to Lemon quay with the
barge, Halvaso said he was desired to move up and down in the little
boat with the four sacks of oats until he heard a whistle, which he
did, Halvaso said all he did was by Buckingham's direction. Mr. STOKES
for the defence, submitted that there was no proof of any felonious
intention on the part of Benny or Pearce; that it did not appear that
Benny was to gain any advantage by the transaction, and a man was not
likely to commit felony for nothing; and as to Hiram Pearce, he had
agreed to buy the oats as a bona fide bargain, without any felonious
purpose. He called William Benny, cousin of one of the prisoners, who
heard Pearce make the bargain at the Union Hotel, several others being
in the room at the time; and John WHETTER, foreman in the yard of
Messrs. Michell at Truro, who gave Pearce and Benny and good character,
Pearce having been employed by Messrs. Michell ten or twelve years, and
brought ore for them from East Wheal Rose, none of which was ever
missed. The Chairman having summed up, the jury in about five minutes
returned all three prisoners Guilty.

MARY HICKS pleaded Guilty of stealing barley meal, onions, potatoes,
mangold wurtzel, and apples, the property of Mr. John WILLS of South
Petherwin. Prosecutor said the prisoner had been in his employ for
twelve years, and had always been an honest, trustworthy woman until
this offence.

JAMES WALLACE, 17, pleaded Guilty of stealing a fustian jacket from
NICHOLAS REED, of Redruth, on the 23rd of December.

JOHN PENALURICK, 39, was found Guilty of stealing a flannel shirt from
MARTIN STEPHENS, a miner working at South Caradon Mine.

ELIZA FLOWERS, 24, was charged with stealing a pair of trousers from
GEORGE ROBERTSON at Truro. Mr. STOKES called witnesses to prove the
case, it appearing that the prisoner had pawned the trousers in the
name of ELIZA JACKSON at Behenna's pawnshop for 1s. - Guilty.

THOMAS TREBILCOCK, 18, and RICHARD VINCENT, 17, two miners were charged
with breaking and entering the dwelling house of WILLIAM PENROSE of
Gwennap, and stealing a box containing money. Mr. HOCKIN conducted the
prosecution. Verdict, Trebilcock, Guilty; Vincent, Not Guilty.

FRANCIS BURNETT, labourer, aged 29, charged with stealing, on the 25th
of December, three fowls, the property of Mrs. CAROLINE DINGLE, of
Broadmoor, in the parish of St. Stephens by Saltash. The prisoner was
in the employ of the prosecutrix and ungratefully committed the felony
after partaking in her house, with the rest of her household, of a good
Christmas Eve supper. Verdict, Guilty.

WILLIAM RICKARD, labourer, aged 42, was charged with stealing, on the
18th of October, a horse-cloth, a pack, and a winnowing sheet, the
property of SAMPSON BORLASE, farmer of Luxulian. He was found Guilty.
There was another indictment, charging the prisoner with stealing a
pack, the property of JOHN HARRILL, of Luxulyan, also on the 18th of
October; but this case was not tried. A previous conviction, however,
was proved against him; at the Epiphany Sessions, 1849, he was
convicted of stealing an ass, and received sentence of transportation.
At that time he bore the name of TREBILCOCK.

JAMES RENFREE, a miner aged 19, was charged with stealing a pair of
shoes, the property of THOMAS COLLINS, also a miner, from a chest at
Clitters mine, in the parish of Calstock, on the 19th of November. At
the close of the evidence for the prosecution, the Chairman,
considering that it had failed in one or two important particulars, and
especially in prosecutor's being unable to swear to the shoes produced,
directed the jury to find a verdict of Acquittal.

LOUISA BURT, aged 36, charged with stealing part of a loaf of bread,
the property of JAMES STEPHENS, of Trewin, in the parish of St. Columb
Major, on the 20th October. It appeared that ELIZABETH STEPHENS, wife
of the prosecutor, was working with the prisoner on the day named, and
offered to give her a cabbage and some turnips for the next Sunday. On
their leaving work, prisoner accompanied Mrs. Stephens to her house,
for purpose of receiving the promised gifts, and, while Mrs. Stephens
was absent in the garden a few minutes, took a loaf of bread from the
house, concealing it under her shawl, as she received the cabbage and
turnips. Verdict, Guilty.

CHARLES WELCH, seaman, aged 21, pleaded Guilty of stealing a silver
watch, the property of PETER CARLYLE, at Budock, on the 20th December.

JOHN JACKMAN HARRIS, aged 22, yesterday convicted on two indictments of
pig-stealing, was now indicted for stealing a horse, the property of
FRANCIS BONE, farmer, of St. Cleer, on the 19th of December. The
prosecutor stated that the prisoner was in his service for about ten
days before the 19th December, on the morning of which day, the
prosecutor discharged him. On the following day prosecutor missed his
horse, and next saw it at Bodmin yesterday forenoon. Would swear it
was the same horse he missed on the 20th of December; it had been in
his possession for many years. GEORGE ROWE, a butcher, of Torpoint,
stated that he bought the horse of the prisoner, on Thursday the 22nd
December, for 30s.; the horse was about 20 years old, and blind in one
eye. In consequence of some information he received, he yesterday
brought the horse down to Bodmin to show it to Mr. Bone; who, at once,
identified it as his property. Verdict, Guilty.

THOMAS HENRY MARTIN, aged 14, was charged with stealing two
clasp-knives and a calico bag, containing some bread, cheese, and
current cake, the property of TRISTRAM BAWDEN, at Gwennap, on the 29th
of December. The prosecutor is a pitman, at the Consolidated mines;
and the articles were stolen from the prosecutor's coat, which was
placed under lock, with other articles in a changing-house on the mine.
Verdict, Guilty.

WHEREAS - On the thirty-first day of December, one thousand eight
hundred and fifty-three, a Petition for an adjudication of bankruptcy
was filed against WILLIAM SIMS, of Redruth, in the county of Cornwall,
Linen Draper, in Her Majesty's Court of Bankruptcy for the Exeter
district, and he being adjudged Bankrupt, is hereby required to
surrender himself to MONTAGUE BAKER BERE, Esquire, Commissioner of her
Majesty's Court of Bankruptcy for the Exeter district, on the 12th day
of January next, at One of the clock in the Afternoon precisely; and on
the ninth day of February following, at one of the clock in the
Afternoon precisely, at the Court of Bankruptcy for the Exeter
district, in Queen Street, in the city of Exeter, and make a full
discovery and disclosure of his Estate and Effects, when and where the
Creditors are to come prepared to prove their debts, and at the first
sitting to choose Assignees, and at the last sitting the said Bankrupt
is required to finish his examination. All Persons indebted to the
said Bankrupt, or that have any of his Effects, are not to pay or
deliver the same but to Mr. HERNAMAN, Queen Street, Exeter, the
Official Assignee, whom the Commissioner has appointed, and give notice
to Mr. JOHN LUKE PETER, Solicitor, Redruth, or his Agent, Mr. JOHN
STOGDON, Solicitor, Exeter. December the thirty-first, one thousand
eight hundred and fifty-three.

SHIPWRECK - On Tuesday morning last, as the schooner "Heir of
Madryn," Captain JONES, master was lying in the outer pier or basin at
Charlestown, a gale of wind suddenly sprung up and it being impossible
to get the vessel in the inner basin, the sea running very high at the
time, she became a total wreck. We regret to say that the ship had not
been insured, and Captain Jones, who was the sole owner, will,
therefore, sustain a very serious loss. No blame is to be attributed
to the authorities of the port.

MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT - On Tuesday the 27th instant the schooner
"Rebecca Lang," of Padstow, in working out of that harbour, (with the
wind ahead) missed stays and went on shore on Gun Point, when WILLIAM
HAMBLY the master, and THOMAS SKINNER of Port Isaac, took to the boat,
which was soon knocked to pieces, and both the men were drowned. The
men that remained on board were saved. The vessel is much injured, but
it is hoped it will not become a wreck. The bodies of the two men, who
were drowned, have since been picked up.

GUN ACCIDENT - On Saturday last, a carpenter named Parsons, in the
employ of Messrs THOMAS MANN and Sons of Truro, was working at Bissick,
near Truro, and at dinner time went out with a gun to shoot blackbirds.
He afterwards returned to the carpenter's shop. The gun was loaded
and cocked, and he took it by the muzzle and was handing it to another
man on the other side of the carpenter's bench, when the breech of the
gun struck against the bench, the gun went off, and the entire charge
was lodged in Parsons's bowels, none of the shots going through his
body. He has since been under medical care, and is in a very
precarious state.

SUICIDE AT ST. AUSTELL - On Monday morning last, a man named JOHN
PROATT, a native of Penryn, committed suicide by hanging himself in the
workshop of Mr. MELLOW, shoemaker, with whom he worked as a journeyman.
The only thing that can be assigned as a reason for the rash act was a
fear of poverty as his sight was becoming dim. His death must have
been very speedy, as he was found within twenty minutes after being
seen alive. Mr. J. PEARCE, surgeon, was in immediate attendance, but
all his efforts to produce resuscitation were without avail.

FATAL MINE ACCIDENT - On Wednesday last, as WILLIAM ROBERTS, of
Balnoon,[?] in the parish of Lelant, aged 19, was in the act of
crossing a board, at the 16-fathoms level, at Wheal Kitty Mine, in that
parish, the board not being properly secured, shifted, and the
unfortunate young man fell to the bottom of the shaft, a depth of
eighty-four fathoms, and was killed on the spot. An inquest was
afterwards held, and a verdict of "accidental death" returned.

CORONER'S INQUEST - An inquest on the body of PHILIPPA HOLMAN, was
commenced before Mr. HICHENS, in the parish of Crowan, on the 28th of
December last, and in consequence of the very suspicious appearances of
the wounds and injuries the deceased had received, was adjourned to
Monday the 2nd instant, for the purpose of a surgical post-mortem
examination and as well of collecting further evidence. On the 2nd the
inquiry was resumed, and resulted in the committal of the deceased's
husband, JAMES HOLMAN, to take his trial on a charge of murder, the
surgeons Mr. GURNEY and Mr. HUTCHINSON (both of Camborne) being decided
in their evidence, that the deceased came to her death by violence, and
that the fractures apparent on the left temple, and depression of the
brain were occasioned by severe and repeated blows inflicted with some
blunt instrument, such as the poll end of a hatchet. A hatchet was
afterwards found in a well on Holman's premises which he confessed he
had thrown therein, because it had blood on it, and he feared if it
were see he should be accused of the murder, though on the finding of
it, when shewn to him, he denied that it was his, or that he had any
knowledge of it. This and other suspicious circumstances connected
with the husband's conduct in the affair, and the absence of anything
like a cause for suspicion of any other person left no doubt in the
minds of the jury that he was the guilty person; seventeen out of
eighteen of the jury recorded their verdict of "wilful murder" the
other inclining to a more merciful verdict, "manslaughter," under a
suspicion that the parties might have quarrelled and that in a passion
he might have given her the fatal blows.

HELSTON CHRISTMAS BALL - This ball was held at the Assembly Room on
Thursday last, and was largely attended by the gentry of the town and
neighbourhood. Dancing was kept up through the night and until morning
had far advanced. The meeting is spoken of as having been the best
held for many years.

EARLY LAMB - Mr. RICHARD PHILLIPS of Lowhibbet, St. Sampsons had a
lamb born on the 25th ult.

LONGEVITY AT PORT ISAAC - Eight of the oldest inhabitants of this
place whose united aged amounted to 647 years, were on Christmas day
most bountifully regaled by Mr. MILES MARLEY, F.R.C.S., with the old
English fare roast beef, plum-pudding, and a pint of ale each.